Why Obaseki Changed Tactics Against Shaibu

Godwin Obaseki, the Governor of Edo state has changed tactics against his Deputy, Philip Shaibu.

The Governor and his Deputy have been embroiled in a festering conflict for over 7 months.

The last five months of the deepening crisis have seen allocations to the office of the Deputy Governor moved away from that of the Governor and its allocations stopped.

Deputy Governor Shaibu despite strong opposition from Governor Obaseki over his gubernatorial ambition – which is the cause of the quarrel – went ahead to officially make his intention known on Monday, November 27, 2023.

The development that fueled the animosity between them attracted an unexpected reaction from Obaseki a couple of days later.

The Governor, who refused to have anything to do with his Deputy, did a 360-degree turnaround to celebrate him with a very “healthy 54th birthday greetings” on Friday, December 1, 2023.

“I congratulate my brother, the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, on his 54th birthday.

“I thank him immensely for his support in the course of our drive for the development of our State in the last seven years.

“I also acknowledge the energy and vigour he has brought to bear as this administration embarked on the onerous task of bringing transformational change and development to Edo State” Obaseki’s open birthday greetings to Shaibu reads in part.

Information at hand revealed that Shaibu inspired the new approach adopted by Obaseki.

“After he declared his ambition on Monday, Shaibu did some interviews and made interesting assertions. Among others, he particularly insisted that he would win the next election because Edo people hate oppression” insiders say.

Obaseki is trying to take away the advantage of that assertion from Shaibu with his new political play.

“They are beating me and I am crying, I am not fighting, I am crying.”, ” I am a homeboy, I am a grassroots person, a street boy because I am always with them”, and “I have the support of the people because Edo people hate oppression” are some of the claims Shaibu made, after he declared to be next Governor of Edo state, that Obaseki is trying to counter with his new approach of “friendliness”.

Shaibu, despite the strong opposition from Obaseki, declared with gusto that he would be on the ballot as the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2024 Edo gubernatorial election. And that Obaseki would support him.